The Construction of Other Images in British Literature from a Postcolonial Perspective

Abstract

This paper is based on the core concerns of postcolonial criticism theory, and conducts a systematic and in-depth exploration of the construction, evolution, and inherent power relations of the "other" image in the long evolution of British literature. The research aims to penetrate the surface of literary aesthetics and reveal the intricate conspiracy and tension between narrative behavior and imperial politics. The article first clarifies the essence of the "other" as a philosophical and social construction category in postcolonial theory, and demonstrates the unique efficacy of literary writing in naturalizing and emotionalizing this political construction. Subsequently, the paper outlines the macro picture of the evolution of the image of the other with the rise and fall of the empire's fate from a diachronic perspective: from the exotic wonders of the Age of Discovery, to the hierarchical mirror projection serving civilization and education during the colonial peak, to the mixed and contradictory representations arising from identity anxiety in the post imperial era. The core of the research lies in a detailed typological analysis of several paradigmatic Other images in classic British literary texts, including the silent aesthetic object under Orientalist discourse, the existence of historical subjectivity deprived in barbarian narratives, the gendered Other as a dual projectile of desire and fear, the marginalized groups defined within the empire to consolidate central identity, and the rebellious Other with deconstructive potential that vaguely emerges in discourse gaps. This article ultimately points out that the literary construction of the image of the other is a continuous and dynamic process of power practice, which not only shapes the understanding and rule of colonies in history, but also profoundly influences identity negotiation and ethical relationships in global cultural politics in the post colonial era. A critical examination of this process is an essential dimension for understanding the entirety of British literature and its connection to world history.